| MURIE AUDUBON SOCIETY CASPER, WYOMING |
| VOLUME 40 - ISSUE 6 MONTHLY PUBLICATION SEPTEMBER 2006 |
CALENDAR
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Sept. 8 - Gen. Mtg.
Sept. 8-10 Wyo. G&F Expo - Events Center
Sept. 12 - Bd. Mtg. - 7 pm - ACGC
Sept. 26 - Zimmerman Lecture - Ivory Billed Woodpecker
Sept. 30 - Nic Annual Dinner and Auction
Oct. 13 - Gen. Mtg.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Click on title to go directly to article. Click on Sage-Grouse at end of article to come back
HERE)
Tom Rea is a writer in Casper who had spent many years working for the Casper
Star-Tribune before going freelance some years ago. His latest book, Devil's
Gate: Owning the Land, Owning the Story, is due out in October. In February and
March, 2005,
he spent 40 days at sea in the far southwest Pacific aboard the R.V.
Melville, a research ship operated by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
Geologists from the University of Michigan, Boise State University, and other
universities were taking core samples of mud from the sea floor, in advance of a
more elaborately equipped expedition that will return later to drill into the
bedrock under the mud.
The chemical composition and fossil content of the seafloor mud hold clues to the ocean chemistry of the distant past--and therefore clues to climate changes over time. Rea's talk will focus on the geologic and climatic thinking underlying the scientists' investigations, with sidelights on bad weather, good fellowship, and what past climate changes have to tell us about the current warming of the earth.
Join us on Friday, September 8, 2006 at 7 pm at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd. The program is free and open to the public.
Bruce Walgren-Program Chair
Weather conditions seem to always work their way into a conversation, and so it is with this message. Precipitation received in late spring was cause for optimism that the drought was coming to an end, or at least lessening. Then, higher than normal temperatures adversely affected the snow pack to the extent that next year’s supply of water for irrigators may be in question. Spring migration also seemed different this year. I noted smaller numbers of birds and not as many unusual species as in the past. The early moisture was a mixed blessing as it provided growth for grasses and forbs that would then dry out as the hot dry weather persisted and added fuel load for the recent wildfires throughout the region. The wildfire season is far from over and fires, though contained, will continue to smolder and burn until sufficient snowfall eventually puts them out this fall. Sometimes it is hard to remember that the fires do have a renewing component, especially when you lose property, or forage for your livestock, or your favorite recreational area has been blackened.
The high cost of gasoline has consumers thinking about what they drive and how much they drive. Energy development on public lands throughout the west is proceeding at a rapid pace. This development is taking precedent over other historical uses of our public lands to the detriment of wildlife, agriculture and recreation. The aforementioned high cost of gasoline, indeed all energy, has consumers and energy producers looking at alternatives and ways to increase efficiency. Energy will be the topic of a public discussion series at Casper College this fall. The series is entitled Energy Futures: Global Changes that Challenge Wyoming. According to coordinator Anne MacKinnon, “The idea of the series is to look several decades out at potential changes in energy demand and energy sources on the world market, in order to invite the audience to learn about the changes ahead and the potential impacts for Wyoming. Climate change is examined as a major driver affecting the future energy picture.” These Thursday night discussions are once again open to the public and start September 14 at 7 pm in Wheeler Auditorium in the Wold Physical Science Building. There is cause for optimism when there are examples of companies and individuals that are creating products out of things that are normally discarded and technologies are increasing the amount of renewable energy.
Meanwhile, somewhat cooler temperatures, a little rain, and shorter days are signaling the waning days of summer and the fall migration of birds. So get out and enjoy the cooler weather and the birds.
Bruce Walgren - President
Beginning this September we have moved our monthly membership meeting night to the second Friday of the month. Our first meeting will therefore be on September 8. The meeting time and place is still the same; 7 PM at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Building, 2211 King Blvd.
We once again have a diverse lineup of programs coming this fall. Tom Rea will be our guest speaker in September - see program announcement. Also in September, Tim Gallagher, Editor-in-Chief of Living Bird, published by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, will speak at Casper College about the rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker; Murie Audubon is a co-sponsor of this Zimmerman Lecture Series talk. Dan Leach, CEO of HTH Wind Energy, Inc. here in Casper will discuss the pros and cons of wind power in October, and Dr. Stephan Jackson from the University of Wyoming will talk to us about climate changes in Wyoming for our November meeting. J.P. Cavigelli from Casper College’s Tate Museum will tell us about prehistoric birds in January. Dr. Chuck Preston, Chief Curator of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center will be our guest speaker at our annual banquet in February. We hope that one, if not all of these upcoming programs, are of interest. We look forward to seeing you throughout the year!!
Bruce Walgren-Program Chair
Audubon Wyoming would like to announce the newest addition to our family. Kim Check has been hired (August 7, 2006) to serve as the south-east Community Naturalist. Kim is an experienced and successful environmental educator. For the past five years, she been involved in environmental education and interpretation programs with federal, state and nonprofit organizations. She also has developed a passion for birds and a conservation ethic that motivated her to seek employment with an organization like Audubon. Please welcome Kim Check!
Alison Lyon-Holloran, Conservation Programs Manager, Audubon Wyoming
Audubon Wyoming is one of several community groups that recently teamed up with the Nicolaysen Art Museum, as well as numerous local and regional artists to present Windows of Wyoming. Windows of Wyoming is a fascinating summer art project that has beautified downtown Casper all summer long, and this September you can bring this artwork into your own home, while helping support Audubon Wyoming.
Holly Turner, executive director of the Nicolaysen, was inspired to bring Windows of Wyoming to Casper after she observed a similar public art project in Omaha, Nebraska. Although Holly brought the idea back from Nebraska, the collaboration between 24 community organizations as well as 44 local and regional artists makes this a Wyoming project through and through. Artists created works on 40” by 66” aluminum panels, and there was no limitation on medium, content, or style. Finished panels have been on display at the historic Townsend Hotel in downtown Casper throughout the summer.
The artist for Audubon Wyoming’s Windows of Wyoming panel was lifelong Laramie resident Tyler Harlow. Tyler attended the University of Wyoming before recently graduating from Evergreen State University in Olympia, Washington. During high school and on into college, Tyler spent his summers working as a wolf ecologist at the University of Wyoming – National Park Service Research Station in Grand Teton National Park. Tyler spent endless hours hiking the trails of the Tetons and countless mornings live-trapping small mammals such as mice and voles. Tyler’s true passion all the while has been his artwork though, and one day he hopes to work in claymation.
Tyler’s painting
epitomizes the Wyoming landscape and lifescape. The artwork manages to
encompass the wide open Wyoming spaces. A Raven dominates the foreground, while
society is tucked into the background. Tyler’s experience in biology and unique
artistic style make his painting the true gem of Windows of Wyoming. All of the
Windows of Wyoming paintings, including Harlow’s work, will be auctioned off at
the Nicolaysen Annual Dinner on September 30th. Proceeds for the panel auction
will go directly to the community groups represented and the artists.
If you are interested in purchasing this artwork for display at your home, office, or perhaps the closest Audubon Center, contact Casper Community Naturalist Ken Keffer at 307-473-1987 or kkeffer_AT_audubonDOTorg for more information. To see all of the Windows of Wyoming panels including the Audubon Wyoming panel, check out Nicolaysen Art Museum and Discovery Center and Windows of Wyoming Community Groups.
Brian Rutledge - Audubon Wyoming Director
Well folks, this old lady is appealing again for Murie's Audubon Adventures program. You came through last year as you have never done before. ALL of the classrooms were sponsored by you and it was GREATLY appreciated!
Hopefully, we will maintain our membership or acquire a few new classrooms.
The price of each classroom has increased. I'm sure that will come as no surprise to you. The price for this year will be $45.65 per classroom.
I've already received some sponsors. Your donations can be sent to me as Chris Michelson and I work together on this and I can keep better records if I receive your sponsorship directly.
We have 32 classrooms enrolled.
Ann Hines
1500 Linda Vista Dr.
Casper, WY 82609
Bruce and I have enjoyed watching the large numbers of nighthawks criss-crossing our evening skies during the last few weeks – one of the signs of “birds on the move.” (Dr. Scott’s book tells us they will be gone by mid-September.) Fall migration is always an interesting time for birders – and challenging, lots of juvenile and immature birds moving through – little brown streaky sparrows, yellowish, greenish warblers, even the young thrushes, waxwings, and shrikes are speckled or streaky. Yes, fall birding is definitely challenging!! But even if you can’t ID everything you see, you can still enjoy watching the birds at your feeder, water bowl, or foraging for insects, berries, or seeds. So, ENJOY!!!
July Yard Birds – For the month of July, Wayne and I received 159 yard bird selections from 17 states with 77 different species reported. Hummingbirds, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and American Goldfinches have typically been the most reported yard birds in July; and that was again the case in July ’06. 5 species of hummers were reported with the Rufus coming in at first place. Second place was a tie between Black-headed Grosbeak and American Goldfinch. Black-chinned Hummingbird was third, and the Calliope was fourth. The warblers are starting to make appearances and the August yard bird report usually has a lot of these little guys; we’ll see if that holds true for August ’06.
Casper: Jim Herold – Black-capped Chickadee, Brigid Herold – Black-headed Grosbeak, Chris Michelson – Eurasian Collared-Dove, Rose-Mary King – Black-capped Chickadee, Gloria Lawrence – Western Wood-Pewee, Jim Lawrence – Yellow-rumped Warbler, Bruce Walgren – Western Kingbird, Donna Walgren – American Goldfinch
Cheyenne: Barb Gorges – American Goldfinch
Dubois: Ralph Moldenhauer – Lesser Goldfinch
Evanston: Patti Gorman – Cassin’s Finch, Tim Gorman – Black-chinned Hummingbird
Lovell: Glen Olsen – Western Tanager
Riverton: Suzanne Hargis – Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Bob Hargis – Brown Thrasher
Thanks to all who helped with the Yard Bird Project in July!! Fall migration is becoming more evident every day – may your yard provide interesting sightings in August and the coming months!! Send your yard bird for August to Donna Walgren (ph. 234-7455), 4311 S. Center St., Casper 82601, or email to Piranga_AT_bresnanDOTnet
Donna Walgren
How many of us have seen a Northern Mockingbird? We are all Auduboners, so I am sure plenty of us have seen a mockingbird or two over the years. I have often chuckled about heading south to see a Northern Mockingbird. This summer you only had to head as far south as the Audubon Center at Garden Creek to see this striking specie. The Northern Mockingbird was one of 32 species of birds processed this summer at the Garden Creek MAPS bird banding station.
This is the 5th MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivability) season for the Garden Creek Station. By mist netting and then banding birds, MAPS provides essential conservation and management data on bird population trends. Bird banding occurs approximately one morning per week during June and July. Mist nets are set up by 5:30 AM and are checked every 30 minutes or so. In addition to banding the birds, information such as species, sex, breeding condition, body condition, and feather wear and molt is also recorded.
The 2006 MAPS season was quite productive at the Audubon Center at Garden Creek. Season totals included 202 new birds banded, 47 recaptured birds, and 44 un-banded birds during the 7 banding dates from June 6 to August 1 for a total of 293 birds processed. Over half of the un-banded birds were Broad-tailed or Rufus Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds require special bands and permits, so these species are immediately released. This year Black-headed Grosbeaks were the most abundant birds netted, and I’m convinced every one of them latched onto someone’s finger with their massive beaks. Other species that were near the top included Gray Catbirds, Yellow Warblers, House Wrens, and Black-capped Chickadees. Some of the more unique birds encountered were the Northern Mockingbird, Veery, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Chat, and MacGillivray’s Warbler.
In addition to all the valuable data collected, MAPS banding is a great way to stay involved and excited about birds. The MAPS program could not continue if it weren’t for the efforts of numerous volunteers. Big thanks go out to everyone who participated this summer. Some mornings upwards of 25 volunteers came out to lend a helping hand and to connect with nature. Jacelyn Downey, Northeast Wyoming’s Community Naturalist said it best when she stated, “I feel like I am more familiar with the birds once I’ve held them in my hands.” It brings a smile to my face every time I spot a banded bird at the Audubon Center at Garden Creek feeders, and I find myself counting down the months until the next 4:03 wake-up call.
Species count - Black-headed Grosbeak – 32; Gray Catbird – 25; Yellow Warbler and House Wren – 22; Black-capped Chickadee – 17; American Robin – 15; Cassin’s Finch 12; House Finch and Lark Sparrow – 6; American Goldfinch and Warbling Vireo – 5; Spotted Towhee and Common Grackle – 5; Lazuli Bunting – 3; Western Wood-Pewee, American Redstart, and Yellow-breasted Chat – 2; Green-tailed Towhee, Song Sparrow, Pine Siskin – 2; Willow Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Veery, Northern Mockingbird, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Western Tanager, Brewer’s Sparrow, Vesper’s Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Bullock’s Oriole – 1; Broad-tailed Hummingbird – 18; and Rufous Hummingbird – 5
Ken Keffer - AW Community Naturalist - Casper
The 19th Annual Festival of the Cranes runs from November 14 to 19, 2006, at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Over 100 events include great birding opportunities; workshops on photography, drawing, paper cutting and cacti; tours covering geology on Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge and historic sites on the Camino Real; plus the Arts and Crafts Tents and wolf and raptor displays.
A special event teaches photography from a model airplane.
Evening features include a dinner theater, the Friends Banquet, and as keynote speakers: renowned author, artist and lecturer Julie Zickefoose on My Hummingbird Summer; and Joan Garland of the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin on establishing a Whooping Crane Migration to Florida.
For more information check Festival of the Cranes, or call 505-835-2077 after September 1.
The Bosque del Apache NWR is south of Socorro. Take I-25 to exit 139, go east ˝ mile to NM Hwy #1, then south 8 miles.
Media Contact: Park Borgeson, 505-823-2331 (Abq.), hbogeson8129_AT_comcastDOTnet
In an effort to highlight individuals, organizations and companies in Wyoming that are recycling or reducing the amount of waste going into our landfills, we are beginning a series of articles about these people.
Heartland
BioComposites, LLC (Heartland) of Torrington is our featured company this
month. Last fall this company began construction of their manufacturing plant.
Heath Van Eaton, the company’s president and founder, has developed a wood-like
product made of wheat straw and HDPE #2 plastic. The plastic jugs that you
bring home from the grocery store with milk, water, and even laundry detergent,
are made of HDPE.
According to the company’s web site, their products have advantages over treated wood products, concrete products, steel products and other composite products. Heartland BioComposites’ product is naturally light to dark brown and can be dyed virtually any color during the production process. They anticipate making products that may be used for fencing (pickets), decking systems, pallets, dimensional lumber, 4’ X 8’ sheets (plywood sizes) or about any place wood products are used.
Heartland is purchasing raw materials for their products locally where possible. Heartland indicated that they have purchased straw in and around the Torrington area, as far east as Alliance, NE and south to Pine Bluffs, WY. They said that they are purchasing plastics from a source in Laramie as well as all over the country. Heartland also indicated that they have had talks with officials in Casper concerning plastics.
At the date of this writing, Heartland will start production as soon as they have the final pieces of equipment needed to begin manufacturing. You can not buy their products yet, but be on the lookout for them at your local home center or lumber mart under the PrairiePicket trademark. Heartland’s mission statement says (in part): Our mission is to design and manufacture innovative, high quality natural fiber/polymer composite products that benefit society and the environment.
We applaud their efforts to locate the plant here in Wyoming, for the development of innovative products, and for removing a portion of the waste stream from our landfills.
Attention readers: If you know of someone who is Reducing, Reusing or Recycling in Wyoming or would like to submit an article on this topic, please contact Bruce Walgren or Rose-Mary King.
Bruce Walgren
Tim Gallagher, Editor-in-Chief of Living Bird, published by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, will speak at Casper College on September 26, 2006 at 7 PM about the rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. As soon as we know the location (building and room) of the presentation, I will send out an updated email or you may call 234-7455.
On February 25, 2004, Tim Gallagher and Bobby Harrison, associate professor at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, lead by Gene Sparling of Hot Springs, Arkansas (the person who originally found the Ivory-bill) were able to find one of the large woodpeckers.
Tim is one of but a handful of people who have had the chance to see the elusive Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas. More tantalizing clues were seen and heard during the 2005-06 field season that lasted from November 2005 to April 2006. More than 130 volunteers and professional staff joined the search of the “Big Woods” of eastern Arkansas. About 72,000 acres, or 13 percent, of the total habitat available have been searched. For more information, visit Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
Casper College Zimmerman Lecture Fund, Casper College Biology Department, and Murie Audubon Society are underwriting the expenses to bring Dr. Gallagher to Casper for the FREE lecture.
We are excited about this opportunity to hear about one of the most important finds in North America in the 21st Century.
Hope to see you there.
Bruce Walgren
Rachel
Lynne Wilson was selected by our Education Committee to receive the scholarship
to EcoTracs Discovery Camp this summer. Ann Hines presented the scholarship to
Rachel at Cresthill Elementary School.
So far, I remain an accidental bird-watcher. I have lots of books about birds and a good pair of binoculars, which I use whenever I see a bird that looks unfamiliar to me. We have year-round bird feeders, and I listen to recorded bird songs, hoping I'll be able to recognize the birds I can't see by their singing. But I have yet to set off actually searching for them. I watch the ones that come to me, the ones that make themselves known in the clearing at the edge of the woods that we inhabit.
Lately, I've been thinking about the volume the birds around us occupy. I don't mean the vast migratory territories they mark out over the course of a year. I mean the spatial dimensions of their ordinary lives among us. This is a thought that has been working away in my head for a long time, ever since I saw a red-winged blackbird perched on a cattail and realized that the bird and the wetland in which the cattail was rooted were nearly synonymous.
"Habitat" sounds awfully general. It turns out to mean not some willful choice — the kind a human would make deciding to live in Dallas rather than in Denver — but a profound correlation. The marsh is who the red-winged blackbird is. The fence post is the meadowlark.
When I first began to notice birds, I thought of them as autonomous creatures whose habitations were simply unconnected matters of fact — as though the pictures of the birds in my bird book could somehow fly free of the pages themselves. But recognizing what you see means, first of all, taking account of where you see it. It becomes clear, sooner or later, that we live in a world of infinitely overlapping and abutting habitats — and that we are one of the rare creatures that are unbound, except in the broadest sense, by place and vocation. It takes an act of will on our part to remember how profoundly, and how beautifully, bound to habitat all the other creatures around us really are.
This thought occurs to me again and again on fine summer evenings, which have been so rare this year, when the phoebes are fluttering after bugs, sometimes pausing on the grass, but swiftly coming to rest on the back of a lawn chair or the very end of a twig. Where the phoebes will not fly, the barn swallows take over, also pursuing insects. Sometimes a swallow will cruise past my head. Compared with the swallow's manner, the phoebe flies a parenthetical flight. And as the two of them take bugs from very different regions of this place of ours — before they retire in favor of the bats — I can hear the catbird hidden in the densest shadow, mewing away. It shows itself just at the edge of the thicket, peering into the clearing where a human sits, hoping that the good weather lasts for a while this time.
Written by Verlyn Klinkenborg - Published in the New York Times on July 3, 2006
Submitted by Bart Rea
Fall not only brings to mind migration and football but also HUNTING! HUNTERS - we ask that you save your hearts for us, or rather the hearts of the bid game animals you bring home this season. They will be used as raptor food for those rehabilitating raptors at Murie’s Bird Hospital. Please contact Lois and Frank Layton (472-7009), Bruce Walgren (234-7455) or Bob Yonts (473-3045) for pick-up.
Referring to the below picture, you will see an example of the kind of containers I need to sit beside each raffle prize to hold the raffle tickets (replacing past paper sacks) at the banquet in February. This goes hand in hand with Bruce’s article on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We will be “Reusing” plastic containers that might otherwise end up in the land fill. Please contact me at 577-0568 and I will get the containers from you or bring them to the general meetings. Thank you!
From
L - R - hand wipes container or any cleaning wipes container; powdered drink mix
container; 1lb. size coffee container. If you have similar plastic containers
that held a different product than listed above, they will work as well.
Approx. size is 6” - 8” in height and 3” - 4” in diameter.
Rose-Mary King - Banquet Chair
Assess the new form. Please fill out and use your printer to print the form and mail to Murie Audubon if you are not a National Audubon Member. Those of you who receive the newsletter here can help support the cost of the website by being a "Friend of Murie" member. If you are a National Audubon Member, the form can be used to support Audubon Adventures, Murie Bird Hospital and/or WyoBirds Listserve. Thank you!